Title: Regency & Regicide
Author: J. J. Fischer
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 5/5 stars
FTC Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for a review. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.
How could I say no to a portal fantasy where a Regency-era author wakes up in the world of her medieval-inspired manuscript? Throw in the tidbit that it’s loosely inspired by Jane Austen’s Emma, and well, it sounded just about perfect.
I wasn’t disappointed! This book made me laugh, made me gasp, and in a few places made me want to throw my Kindle across the room.
In other words, it was indeed just about perfect.
Characters: Diana is a delightful heroine, annoying at times but lovable all the same. Her complete lack of understanding about the inner workings of her own world was quite relatable. She goes through some great character growth, which was fun to read.
Nash is a great hero, a character in his own right and not just the love interest thrown in for a subplot. He’s a sweetheart, but not so much so that he doesn’t feel real. We need more male characters like him!
The supporting cast is a lively bunch of characters. I’d honestly love to read Diana’s novel to see what happens to them.
Content: The romantic subplot is a large one, with a sweet, slow-burn approach to the friends-to-more trope. A character falls for a charming fellow who kisses her frequently, sometimes without her approval. Other characters share kisses, as well.
Men make crude comments about women.
A man and a woman have to share a tent for a night, and then a bed for another night. (Nothing happens, though; they’re both highly concerned about each other’s reputations.)
Diana can’t help but notice when the men around her are shirtless.
There’s a good deal of fantasy violence, the most gruesome injuries arising from an attack by shadow-birds. Nothing’s described in overwhelming detail, but it’s clear the characters are suffering.
Characters are said to swear. There are a few instances of “Gads.”
Writing: The writing is excellent, with the plot progressing at a perfect pace and the twists keeping me invested to the final page. I stayed up late a couple of nights so I could get to a less suspenseful section. Everything is resolved well and smoothly, with a satisfying ending.
Summary: I had fairly high expectations for this book, and it managed to exceed them all. It’s a fun, sweet story about learning to let go, about surrendering everything to one who knows better. I highly recommend for readers aged 16+.
Comments